Health inspectorate receives 783 concerns, but warns against ranking boards

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales received 783 concerns in 2025/26, up from 743 the previous year. Its annual report records 115 concerning Betsi Cadwaladr and 110 concerning Swansea Bay. The regulator explicitly warns readers not to turn those totals into a league table. Health boards serve populations of different sizes across different areas, so raw counts are not a measure of performance.

What the figures can tell us

The series records concerns reaching HIW, rather than a count of upheld complaints or patients harmed. HIW links the increase to public awareness, confidence in speaking up and pressures on services. It sought further assurances from services in around 30% of cases. The figures show the volume of intelligence reaching the regulator, not how likely an individual patient is to receive poor care.

Recurring problems need lasting improvements

In its 24 September announcement, HIW called for faster progress on longstanding problems. Access to treatment, patient flow, workforce pressures and unsuitable healthcare environments recur in its findings. Mental health facilities remain a particular concern. The regulator also recognises compassionate care and staff working under sustained pressure. Its argument is that improvements must last, rather than that every service is failing.

How concerns are used

HIW uses concerns to inform inspections and decisions about risk. Its report sets response targets of two working days for high-risk concerns, five for medium-risk and seven for low-risk matters. These are targets for a response, not promises that a complaint will be resolved within that time.